Skip to main content
PMC home page
Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2015 Jan 20;24(1):25–65. doi: 10.1016/S0195-5616(94)50002-0

Pet Rabbits

Elizabeth V Hillyer 1,*
PMCID: PMC7134488  PMID: 8109075

Abstract

Pet rabbits are becoming more common, and rabbit owners are demanding quality veterinary care. This article provides a broad overview of pet rabbit medicine, which is a relatively new field compared to laboratory and farm rabbit medicine. The most common differential diagnoses for presenting complaints are summarized in table form. Disease conditions are reviewed individually in the text. Sources of further information on veterinary care of rabbits are listed throughout the text, in an appendix, and in the references.

References

  • 1.Baba N., von Haam E. Animal model: Spontaneous adenocarcinoma in aged rabbits. Am J Pathol. 1972;68:653. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Bauck L. Ophthalmic conditions in pet rabbits and rodents. Compend Contin Educ Small Anim. 1989;11:258. [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Brown S.A. Surgical removal of incisors in the rabbit. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1992;1:150. [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Burns K.F., de Lannoy C.W. Compendium of normal blood values of laboratory animals with indication of variations. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1966;8:429. doi: 10.1016/0041-008x(66)90052-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Carman R.J. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea of rabbits. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1993;2:69. [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Carman R.J. Clostridial enteropathies of rabbits. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando; 1993. p. 795. [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Carman R.J., Borriello S.P. Laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium spiroforme-mediated diarrhoea (iota enterotoxaemia) of rabbits. Vet Rec. 1983;113:184. doi: 10.1136/vr.113.8.184. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Cheeke P.R. Rabbit Feeding and Nutrition. Academic Press; Orlando: 1987. Nutrition-disease interrelationships; p. 176. [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Cheeke P.R., Patton N.M., Lukefahr S.D. Rabbit Production. 6. Interstate Printers and Publishers; Danville, CT: 1987. The rabbitry and its equipment; p. 55. [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Cheeke P.R., Patton N.M., Lukefahr S.D. Rabbit Production. 6. Interstate Printers and Publishers; Danville, CT: 1987. Rabbit reproduction; p. 249. [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Cunliffe-Beamer T.L., Fox R.R. Venereal spirochetosis of rabbits: eradication. Lab Anim Sci. 1981;31:379. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.DiGiacomo R.F. Natural history of Pasteurella multocida infection in rabbits. J Appl Rabbit Res. 1992;15:1515. [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Duwel D., Brech K. Control of oxyuriasis in rabbits by fenbendazole. Lab Anim. 1981;15:101. doi: 10.1258/002367781780958928. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Edwards S., Small J.D., Geratz J.D. An experimental model for myocarditis and congestive heart failure after rabbit coronavirus infection. J Infect Dis. 1992;165:134. doi: 10.1093/infdis/165.1.134. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Emily P. Problems peculiar to continually erupting teeth. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1991;1:56. [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Fish R.E., Besch-Williford C. Reproductive disorders in the rabbit and guinea pig. In: Kirk R.W., Bonagura J.D., editors. Current Veterinary XI. WB Saunders; Philadelphia: 1992. p. 1175. [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Garibaldi B.A., Fox J.G., Otto G. Hematuria in rabbits. Lab Anim Sci. 1987;37:769. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Harkness J.E. Rabbit husbandry and medicine. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1987;17:1019. doi: 10.1016/s0195-5616(87)50103-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Harkness J.E., Wagner J.E. ed 3. Lea & Febiger; Philadelphia: 1989. The Biology of Rabbits and Rodents. [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Hillyer E.V. Approach to the anorexic rabbit. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1992;1:106. [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Jenkins J.R., Brown S.A. AAHA Publications; Denver, CO: 1993. A Practitioner’s Guide to Rabbits and Ferrets. [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Jenkins J.R. Skin disorders of the rabbit. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1991;1:64. doi: 10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30042-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Jenkins J.R. Nutrition and nutrition-related diseases of rabbits. J Sm Exotic Anim Med. 1991;1:12. [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Kamphues J. Calcium metabolism of rabbits as an etiological factor for urolithiasis. J Nutr. 1991;121:s95. doi: 10.1093/jn/121.suppl_11.S95. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Kirschner S.E. Diseases of the eyelids and conjunctiva. In: Kirk R.W., Bonagura J.D., editors. Current Veterinary XI. WB Saunders; Philadelphia: 1992. p. 1085. [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Kozma C., Macklin W., Cummins L.M. Anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the rabbit. In: Weisbroth S.H., Flatt R.E., Kraus A.L., editors. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. Academic Press; New York: 1974. p. 51. [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Kraus A.L., Weisbroth S.H., Flatt R.E. Biology and diseases of rabbits. In: Fox J.G., Cohen B.J., Loew F.M., editors. Laboratory Animal Medicine. Academic Press; San Diego: 1984. p. 207. [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Kunstyr I., Naumann S. Head tilt in rabbits caused by pasteurellosis and encephalitozoonosis. Lab Anim. 1985;19:208. doi: 10.1258/002367785780893548. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Leary S.L., Manning P.J., Anderson L.C. Experimental and naturally-occurring gastric foreign bodies in laboratory rabbits. Lab Anim Sci. 1984;34:58. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Okerman L., Devriese L.A., Maertens L. Cutaneous staphylococcosis in rabbits. Vet Rec. 1984;114:313. doi: 10.1136/vr.114.13.313. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Okuda H., Campbell L.H. Conjunctival bacterial flora of the clinically normal New Zealand white rabbit. Lab Anim Sci. 1974;24:831. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Peeters J.E., Vandergheynst D., Geeroms R. Viral hemorrhagic disease (VHD) in rabbits: protection conferred by intradermal vaccination with Dercunical, in comparison with S.C. or I.M. vaccination with Arvilap, Leporiphyl and Hebov Ac-88-T. J Appl Rabbit Res. 1992;15:1472. [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Quesenberry K.E. Rabbits. In: Birchard S.J., Sherding R.G., editors. Manual of Small Animal Practice. WB Saunders; Philadelphia: 1993. [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Rockar RA, Hillyer EV, Quesenberry KE: Urolithiasis in the rabbit: A review of seven clinical cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, in press.
  • 35.Sebesteny A. Acute obstruction of the duodenum of a rabbit following the apparently successful treatment of a hairball. Lab Anim. 1977;11:135. doi: 10.1258/002367777781005514. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Sedgewick C.J. Spaying the rabbit. Mod Vet Prac. 1982;63:401. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Swartout M.S., Gerken D.F. Lead-induced toxicosis in two domestic rabbits. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1987;191:717. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Thouless M.E., DiGiacomo R.F., Deeb B.J. Pathogenicity of rotavirus in rabbits. J Clin Microbiol. 1988;26:943. doi: 10.1128/jcm.26.5.943-947.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Toft J.D. Commonly observed spontaneous neoplasms in rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils. Semin Avian Exotic Pet Med. 1992;1:80. [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Toth L.A., Krueger J.M. Hematologic effects of exposure to three infective agents in rabbits. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;195:981. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Wagner J.L., Hackel D.B., Samsell A.G. Spontaneous deaths in rabbits resulting from gastric trichobezoars. Lab Anim Sci. 1974;24:826. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Weisbroth S.H. Neoplastic diseases. In: Weisbroth S.H., Flatt R.E., Kraus A.L., editors. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. Academic Press; New York: 1974. p. 338. [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Wixson S.K. Intubation of rabbits and rodents; Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando; 1992. p. 719. [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Wixson S.K. Anesthesia and analgesia for rabbits; Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando; 1992. p. 721. [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Yongkun W., Guoqiang Z., Yueyou D. Development of a vaccine protective against viral hemorrhagic disease. J Appl Rabbit Res. 1992;15:1355. [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Zaoutis T.E., Reinhard G.R., Cioffe C.J. Screening rabbit colonies for antibodies to Pasteurella multocida by an ELISA. Lab Anim Sci. 1991;41:419. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES